Blog Posts

5 Ways to Reconnect with Hometown Friends Over Winter Break

One of the best times of year to catch up with hometown friends is winter break. You’re all back home for an extended period, likely with plenty of free time in your schedules and no need to think about schoolwork again until next year. Plus, unlike spring break, the end of the school year is still a long way off and unlike summer, most of your friends won’t be going on vacation or be preoccupied looking for an internship. To properly reconnect, there are a few different activities you should consider organizing. If you have plenty of time, you may even like to do them all. At the very least, they’ll keep you from feeling bored and strengthen the bonds you have with old friends. 1. Quick Coffee with the Group Meet up with your entire group of friends over a morning coffee. This will allow those who have other commitments to leave early — and the rest of you can stick around for longer. Your friends should be able to fit a quick coffee into their schedule, even if some of them are busy with a job, gift shopping, or preparing for next semester. 2. Brunch and a Movie Spend the whole day together — without pushing anyone to get up early — by arranging to meet for brunch. This will give you plenty of time to chat about university, jobs, roommate drama, and everything else. Complete the day by heading to a movie theatre to see a latest release that you’ve been unable to see yet due to being busy with finals. 3. Hit the Bars If your friends have more time in the evenings, heading to a local bar or even organizing a proper night out could be ideal. Your friends need to let off steam just as much as you do — this could be the perfect choice to help you relax. 4. Go for Dinner Organize a special end-of-year dinner at a fancy restaurant with all your closest friends from your hometown. Choose a restaurant that you’ve always loved or try out one you’ve never been to before. Either way, it’s a great opportunity to dress up and feel more like part of each other’s new, adult lives. 5. Have a Slumber Party If you want to do the opposite and feel like kids again, hold a slumber party. It’s sure to make you think of the old times and how much fun you used to have at high school. Incorporate some of your favourite activities, whether that means having a movie night, baking and decorating cookies, or playing video games. What you choose to do doesn’t matter nearly so much as the fact that you’ll all be together again. You’ll likely stay in touch with friends over the school year through social media and texting, but nothing compares to meeting in person. Instead of waiting for another break, why not invite friends over for the weekend while you’re at college? You’ll find apartments near Brock University with plenty of space to host guests at Foundry Lofts. Apply now to join our waitlist to hear when new spots open up .

Ways to Destress as a Student

Going off to university is an exciting time, but as with any other major life change, it certainly comes with its share of stressors. Most significantly, you’ll be living independently, which brings much more freedom and choice than you’re used to. You’re particularly likely to feel stressed when your energy levels drop and you face more demands than you can handle. Whenever you feel like you’re in this situation, here are a few things you can do to destress . 1. Sleep Enough Each Night There are often times when you may feel tempted to stay up late, whether to squeeze in a few more hours of studying, hang out with friends, or even relax with social media or video games. However, if you need to wake up early for class or another commitment, this is never a good idea . Sleep deprivation will make you more stressed and put you at risk for serious health conditions. Instead, try to stick to a bedtime — don’t sleep until the early afternoon to make up for a late night. It’s helpful for your body to have a schedule, and it’s best if this is aligned with the hours of daylight. 2. Exercise Regularly Staying physically active is a great way to relax — plus, it will help you fall asleep faster. College is a great time to experiment with new activities you may enjoy, such as by joining sports teams, going to the gym, or taking advantage of free fitness classes. When you find a form of exercise you enjoy, you’ll look forward to working out. 3. Eat a Healthy Diet You’ll also feel better physically and mentally if you’re eating well. Healthy foods will keep your energy levels steady throughout the day and prevent a sugar high that will only make you feel worse later. Besides, university is a great time to explore new flavours and to learn cooking skills that will benefit you for life. 4. Limit Your Caffeine Intake One thing that should be in your diet only in moderation is caffeine. A coffee in the morning and perhaps another after lunch is reasonable. However, relying on caffeine to keep you alert into the night to meet the due date for a paper will make you much more susceptible to stress. For the same reason, you should avoid prescription medication to boost your energy. 5. Create a Reasonable Schedule It’s easy to take on too much when you start university. You may want to work, join many clubs, and sign up for the maximum number of classes. While it’s fine to experiment with your limits, you also need to know when to drop something to prevent burnout. For instance, you may need to drop a class, volunteer less often with your extracurriculars, or search for a job with a more manageable schedule. 6. Make Time for Leisure What you shouldn’t do is give up all your fun activities to make time for studies and work. It’s important to spend a few hours a week on your hobbies, whether on your own or as part of a group. A great thing about university is that you should find plenty of opportunities to explore new passions. 7. Learn Breathing Exercises Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress, stop and breathe. There are various types of breathing exercises you can try, the most simple of which involves breathing slowly and deeply for at least a few seconds. You’ll feel much less stressed if you’re living in a place you love to call home. Since living on campus means losing privacy and sharing your living spaces with a large number of other people, many students prefer to search for rooms for rent. St. Catharines students can find high-quality student housing at Foundry Lofts. You’ll have your own room in a suite that you’ll share with just three or four other people. Plus, you’ll have access to a range of great onsite amenities, including fitness facilities, a games room, and a study zone. Receive an in-person or virtual tour to see it for yourself.

How to Save Money on Holiday Gifts as a Student

However much you love the holidays, there’s one thing you definitely don’t look forward to: exceeding your budget on gifts. Avoid stress this year by following some basic money-saving tips. 1. Decide How Much You Can Afford Look at your monthly budget and decide how much of it you can afford to allocate to gifts. It’s important to do this before you start buying anything — otherwise, you may end up spending almost your entire budget on a couple people and have nothing left for everyone else. Also determine who you want to give gifts to. If you want to purchase more expensive presents for some people than others, come up with a rough amount of how much you’ll spend on each individual . 2. Spread Out Your Holiday Shopping Start buying gifts as early as possible. This will enable you to use a portion of a couple months’ budget rather than needing to find the whole amount you need at once. If you won’t be seeing some family members or friends until the beginning of next year, you can even wait to buy gifts until after the holidays. 3. Organize a Gift Exchange with Friends An easy way to save money on buying gifts for friends is to arrange some kind of gift exchange. You could do a Secret Santa, where each person in the group is anonymously assigned someone else to buy a gift for, or a White Elephant, where you all bring one gift and everyone chooses one to take at random. Either way, you’ll have the freedom to spend a decent amount on one gift instead of needing to buy a large number of small gifts. If most of your friends are college students as well, the likelihood is they are also strapped for cash and will appreciate this idea. 4. Make Your Gifts You’ll spend even less if you make your gifts. Plus, an added benefit is that your presents will have more meaning to the recipients. If you know how to knit or crochet, you can make great gifts like scarves, hats, or socks. Alternatively, you could collect some photos from over the years to create a memory book or make cosmetics — bath bombs can be particularly impressive, but they’re cheap and easy to make. 5. Save Money on Holiday Activities Gift giving is just one expense you face over the holidays; another major one is holiday activities with friends and family. However, there are plenty of things you can do that cost little or nothing. For instance, you could have a movie night at home, go for a drive around your WiFi -equipped study lounge. Apply now to join the waitlist for next year.

9 Career Options for Music Lovers

The music industry has undergone some extreme changes over the last couple of decades. Consumers no longer purchase music at nearly the same levels as they once did, but that doesn’t mean demand for music has in any way decreased. In fact, changes in the industry have created a range of new careers. Studying a music-related major like audio engineering, music production, or music business could open up these opportunities for you. 1. Sound Engineer Some of the best-paying jobs in the music industry go to sound engineers. Various jobs fall into this category, including for mapping sound effects for video games, composing scores for movies, and recording sound for TV productions. 2. Music Agent A career that often comes to mind when talking about the music business is a music agent. You’ll need a good understanding of marketing, project management, and public relations, such as for managing social media, organizing interviews and events, and writing press releases for your clients. You can represent musicians and bands by finding a job at a music marketing firm or by setting up your own agency. 3. Conductor Becoming a musician is not the only way to work in performance: you could also conduct an orchestra or choir. You’ll be responsible for choosing the music and creating arrangements suitable for your musicians or singers. You’ll then need to rehearse with your group and attend performances. You may like to start out leading a school band, youth orchestra, or choir. With experience, options may open up in TV and radio or with a performance company. 4. DJ Successful DJs are outgoing entertainers who know how to create a beat. This path tends to lead to a career as a freelancer, but it’s not difficult to receive referrals if people love your music. You may even be able to land regular work at the same bars or clubs. 5. Recording Engineer If you’d prefer to work behind the scenes, a career as a recording engineer could be for you. This involves recording songs and then mixing and mastering the tracks. As well as jobs with composers, arrangers, and producers, you may work with a film sound editor or concert production company. 6. Music Journalist A great way to attend a performance without being in the spotlight yourself is to become a music journalist. You may need to start out as a freelancer until you are able to land a position with a music magazine or another publication. As well as attending and covering concerts, you’ll likely write about new releases, artist profiles, and news items related to the music industry. 7. Songwriter Behind every great song is a songwriter. If you pursue this career, you’ll be responsible for writing some musical elements as well as lyrics. This is one of the more difficult areas of the music industry to get into. It helps to have some interesting stories to tell along with a knack for writing lyrics that resonate with your audience. 8. Musical Therapist Music can be healing, especially for patients with mental health conditions but also for those with physical pain. After learning how to use music for therapy, you’ll be able to provide support for people at hospitals, clinics, rehab centres , and assisted living facilities. 9. Music Teacher As a music teacher, you can be self-employed or work at a school or academy. You can teach one or several instruments or musical skills in general. Whatever you choose, this is sure to be a rewarding career. Since jobs in the music industry can be competitive, you’ll need to study hard to gain an edge over other graduates. This means searching for suitable student rentals. St. Catharines music students can find a home at Foundry Lofts. As well as being able to study at your desk in a fully-furnished suite, you can head to our onsite quiet study zone whenever you like. Plus, you’ll be able to meet students attending other colleges in places like the fire-side lounge, fitness centre , and game room. Apply now to s ecure your spot.

Student Apartments for Rent St. Catharines, Brock University & Thorold

APARTMENTS FOR RENT NEAR BROCK UNIVERSITY & NIAGARA COLLEGE Looking for the best student apartments for rent Thorold has to offer? Your search is over with Foundry Lofts. We are a thriving student community located just 10 minutes away from Brock University and a short drive away from Niagara College. By living here, you get to experience the benefits of on-campus housing and still enjoy all the perks and freedom that come with living off-campus. Whether you prioritize your privacy or enjoy the company of others, our apartments for rent have been designed with your success in mind. Rest in your spacious bedroom, get work done at our study spaces, or wind down in our common areas. We make sure you have everything you need to reach your highest potential. COZY FLOOR PLANS Foundry Lofts has some of the best apartments for rent St. Catharines students have ever seen. We offer four and five-bedroom floor plans to give you flexibility. All our floor plans include modern furniture, fully equipped kitchen, stainless steel appliances, 9’ ceilings, Bell fibre internet, and in-suite washer and dryer. Every bedroom in our apartments for rent is spacious, and comes with a bed, desk, and wardrobe. There are also two bathrooms in each suite to ensure privacy. To promote a stress-free experience, we also provide roommate-matching service and individual leasing options. COMMUNITY AMENITIES Our apartments near Brock University are safe and secure with great social areas, flexible work spaces, and a wide range of amenities. Our apartments for rent are purposefully designed to maintain a relaxed and quiet atmosphere, while our location has easy access to everything you may need during your time in Ontario. You can work in peace in one of our private and group study spaces. There’s a games room and movie theatre to unwind after a long day of attending classes, and an outdoor courtyard and fireside lounge to meet new friends. You can also use our fitness centre to stay fit, and our in-suite kitchen to prepare and cook your own meals. We have an approachable management and maintenance team if you’ve been locked out or if you need help to make the most out of your stay at one of our student apartments. St. Catharines is a great place to study and live. It’s only one hour away from Toronto and 30 minutes from the United States. Step outside our apartments for rent and explore your neighborhood. No two days are the same in Thorold, and there are plenty of things to do and places to explore. Explore the restaurants, cafes, bars, and retail shops nearby that will no doubt keep you busy during your spare time. VIRTUAL TOURS At Foundry Lofts’ apartments for rent, you get to have the best of both worlds. Our student apartments for rent offer a combination of modern facilities and social spaces so that our student residents can rest well, study hard, and have fun. Check out our virtual tours and see for yourself why our apartments near Niagara College are the top choice for university students.

Brock University Student Housing Rentals - Foundry Lofts

BROCK OFF-CAMPUS LIVING – BROCK UNIVERSITY STUDENT HOUSING RENTALS STUDENT HOUSING NEAR BROCK UNIVERSITY With its convenient location and luxurious amenities in one fantastic package, it’s clear to see why Foundry Lofts is a popular choice for Brock off campus living. Our student housing facilities have everything you need, and we’re just a quick 10-minute drive from Brock University. The Foundry Lofts allows you to decompress and enjoy your own company, as well as provide opportunities for social gatherings. By staying at our Brock University off campus housing, you’ll learn new life skills and make lifelong friendships. We make student life easy for you, so you can concentrate on the important things with your time. BROWSE OUR FLOOR PLANS Foundry Lofts’ off campus housing offers four and five-bedroom floor plans so you can easily find the perfect home away from home. We have spacious bedrooms, fully-equipped kitchens, stainless steel appliances, a washer and dryer, fast internet, and two private bathrooms for every student housing suite. Our Brock university student housing also offers roommate matching and individual leasing so you never have to worry if your roommate decides to transfer or move out. We’re more than just a place to rest your head; our Brock off campus housing has a vibrant student community to help you move in and settle down. Our friendly off campus housing staff and maintenance team will look out for your wellbeing and ensure you’re living your best student life. ENJOY LUXURIOUS AMENITIES Our Brock student housing is thoughtfully designed so you can replenish and recharge. With student housing spaces designed for your relaxation, health, and convenience, we have plenty of ways for you to decompress. Enjoy the privacy from your bedroom and meet new friends in our off campus housing communal living areas. For times when you need total focus, we have group and private study spaces. There’s a fitness centre with a weight room, cardio area, spin studio, and dance studio. If you’re looking for company, we have a games room, a movie theatre, and an outdoor courtyard with fireside lounging areas where you can mingle with other student housing residents. Aside from the amenities available, the prime location of our student housing near Brock University is also another advantage. University life shouldn’t all be about studying, so when you’re feeling as if you could use a break, feel free to step away and enjoy the various restaurants, cafes, clubs, and retail shops near our student housing. There are also plenty of tourist attractions to explore such as the Twin Flight Locks, the Welland Canal, and the majestic Niagara Falls. At Foundry Lofts, you can have the privacy and solace of your own space in our off campus housing; yet close enough to be in the middle of all the action in Thorold. GO ON A VIRTUAL TOUR Whether you’re booking with friends or as an individual, you are most welcome here. Check out our student housing facilities without having to leave the comforts of your home with our virtual tours. Reserve your spot today before slots run out!